The dean of University of Montana’s College of Humanities and Sciences has resigned after eight months on the job. Larry Hufford stepped down last week to move into a faculty position in the Division of Biological Science.
The Daily Montanan reportsthe university is considering a $2.5 million dollar cut to the College of Humanities and Sciences. Hufford told colleagues in an email that UM’s ‘budget environment’ prompted his resignation.
The College of Humanities and Sciences has seen budget cuts totaling nearly 25% over five years. UM spokesperson Dave Kuntz said the administration has a new budget allocation process to better respond to student interests, and that the College of Humanities and Sciences will always be one of UM’s foundational cornerstones.
“But there are trends that are real, and we need to make sure that our budgets are allocated to ensure that we're putting money where there's growth and ensuring that those tradeoffs are appropriate," Kuntz said.
Hufford’s departure leaves UM’s College of Humanities and Sciences without a permanent leader for the second time in two-and-a-half years. Three associate deans will lead the program while UM searches for an interim dean.
CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to attribute the University of Montana’s consideration of a $2.5 dollar cut to the College of Humanities Sciences to reporting from the Daily Montanan. The story previously said that information was cited by UM spokesperson Dave Kuntz, which was inaccurate.